The Monkey's Paw

The new customer asked to see the monkey's paw. They all do.
It sits on the first shelf of curiousities at the front of the ship, so one cannot help seeing it there, mounted on polished mahoghany. Father insists it contributes to the shop's ambiance but I think it is just asking for trouble.
It is the most oft-returned artifact and each time it returns (for no refund, as warned when our customers first purchase the paw) the long leathery fingers uncurl, splaying to its full grotesque glory.
Father is a business man first and foremost, though he considers himself a teacher where the paw is concerned. "Each purchase is a lesson," he says. "Each customer that returns that paw is more learned that they were before they stepped through our doors."
The monkey's paw is our most popular item, so when a new customer asks the price , I do not mention it has been owned by some outrageous number of people before them. I do not mention that those who reutnr it are ashed-faced, shadows for eyes and nails bitten bloody and red. I do not mention that the third wish is always the same, that it always undoes the evils preceeding it. I only wrap it up in pastel coloured paper, collect the 6 pounds 50, and wish them happiness with their new purchase.

Art by Luna Louise

Text by Lucie MacAulay